Intermittent mechanical movement



F. H. WALKER.

INTERMITTENT MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY s. 1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. WAL-KEF., OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA.

INTERMITTEN T MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

Speciicaton of Letters Patent. Patented Dec, 30,A 19j 9 Original application iled January 27, 1917, Serial No. 148,902. Divided and this application filed May 6,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. WALKER, a-

citizen of the United States, residing at Alhambra, in the county' of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Intermittent Mechanical Movement, ofvwhich the following is a specification. v-

This' invention relates to a device set forth in-mylapplication for patent on automatic water heater, SerialNo. 148902, iled J an. 27, 1917 and of which this application is a division.

lAn object of this'invention fis to provide practicalf'mechanical "means for automatically operating af'device offering a variable resistanceto such operation.

This' irrv'ention relates'to means by 'which to''produ'c practically' instant valve' action' both atfthefitimeo'f valve opening and valve closing; and an object is to provide simple andgcertainmeans that are not likely to get out of order and that are adapted to accomplish practically instantaneous action for the opening and closing of a valve.

The invention is also adapted toV operate mechanism for making and breaking an electric circuit or for use in other cases where a sudden, quick action is desired. It is applicable in combination with additional mechanism; which would bring about a practically instantaneous action in one direction and which, when working in the opposite directionk would also-bring about practically instantaneous action.

An object is to provide a practical snap action without the'use of springs and Without having to overcome any forceful resistance.

This invention is primary and pioneer in that an oscillatory 'element and a mobile weight are so constructed and arranged that the weight is intermittently operated to act upon the oscillatory element less forcibly in one direction than in the other, thus to reduce thel pounding action and the noise of operation. The mechanism will be described and shown herein as operating a gas valve, but I do not limit it to that purpose specifically.

The invention is basic 'and primary in that it comprises in combination with a. mobile weight, an oscillatory element oscillating on a horizontal axis and constructed and arranged to ,circ-.to auch Weight during an oSciL Serial No. 233,182.

lation of the oscillatory element, an'impetus to forcibly complete the oscillation of the oscillatory elements; and this is done by constructing the oscillatory elementv to form for the mobile Weight a way having two limbs in angular relation to each other converging toward the vertical plane of the axis of oscillationand being provided at one end with means to maintain the angle of repose of the weight until said weight has been sufficiently elevated 'by initial oscillation to give the weight such impetus down the adjacent long limb vof the way as to cause the weight to ride upon the other limb andfto forcibly and suddenly actuate' said other limb to complete the oscillation of the oscillatoryelement and to cause the weightto` ver reach, at the other end of said element, a

seat constructed to afford an Yangle lofrepose for said weight only during the full depres by thejunction of a third and shorter limb with one of the longer limbs; and the shorter limb forming a seat for the weight; the inner bend being adjacent the vertical plane of the axis ofoscillation, and the way being so constructed that when, upon initial oscil lation of the rocker the seat has been raised until the opposite ends of the way are at a common level, the short limb will yet form a seat to maintain the weight at repose; and upon a further' oscillation raising said seat.

the weight supportedb'y the short limb of l the rocker will pass beyond-the angle ofrepos'e of said weight` thus releasing the f weight and allowing it to move down' the adjacent long limb of the rocker with such velocity'that its momentum will cause it' to act forcibly upon the other long limb there= bv to suddenly and forcibly ,depress Such other-long limb with a snap action or jerk so as to operate a lost motion means with a jerk to unseat and lift a. valve connected thereto. It is understood that the lost motion means thus operated may be ofva'rious constructions and applied to the operation' of various' devices other than gas valves.

Lost motion means will also -be shown'foi" imposing: theinitial oscillation upon the rocker 'in either direction and it is understood that the invention is not limited to anyv closing position.

fopen on one side.

y.The weight starting position is shown in dottcdglines; theuvlalve starting position of the .weight is shown in dash lines; and the open valve position is shown 4in dot and dash lines;

Fig- 2..S

member shown in Fig; 1, together with the housing which is sectioned on line m2 Fig. 1'.'

.F.`i g.v3 is an elevational diagram of the oscillatory; member at various5pos1tionsof the mobile weight.

Fig. lell-is a transverse section on line m4, Figs. 1 and 2,1ooking in the direction of the arrow,,thevweight being intact.

1 is yaigus boxv or gas chamber entirely l this side, however, being provided with a lid or cover 2 which when the valve-is to be placed in operation, is securely-bolted on to the box 1, and sealed gas-:tight vby gasket'material 3.

The motive power to operate the mechanismconstituting the present invention may be 4communicated to ysuch"mechanisn'1 by a rod 4 working through a stufng box 5 in the wall ofthe gas chamber,-or'by other -suitablefwell-.known means not necessary to lie-.illustrated herein as they do not involve this invention..

The mechanism of 'the present invention comprises -anoscillatorymember 6 in the .x-form'of a rocker having two bends, one bend 7 .being/inthe center and-another 8, at one ende Thebent way thushasthree limbs 9, 10,211 arranged' incertain vangular relations to each other 'sons to produce certain results This rocker isfbalanced or lnearly balanced, as may ,be desired 'for adjustment, on a transverse .fulcrumiarranged near the middle-of-the-rocker.

we1ght,-shown as a steel ball 13 moves from one end to the other with practically-.no friction. i;

y .Said Tway is formed bythe' bentupper suraplan of the rocker or oscillatory- On thefupper portion of the rocker there' is provide'da vrun way 12in which a mobile' tace of the rocker and is limited by the smooth cylindrical rods 14, and the end bars 15,16.

Protruding from each end of the rocker, beyond the ball inclosure, are two lips, 17, 18, the same simply being extensions of the floor of the rocker.

In one of these lips isa hole, 19 through which the stem 2O of the valve member 21 may slide freely between such member and a head 22 at the top of the valve stem. Said head is shown as of a conical form, resting at its lower reduced end on the margin of the hole 19 through which the stem moves. Said hole flares downwardly and the valve stem, the head and the rocker, constitute lost motion mechanism for operating the valve.

The lip at the other end of the rocker is adapted in., this particular kform of construction to be acted upon by whatever motive force may be used to produce action of the valve operating mechanism. 1

The stops 23, 23 which are shownas adjustable, being ,screw threaded into the floor ofgas chamber areprovided and so placed that whichever end of the rocker may be in depressed position? will rest on its respective stop and not be allowed to descend farther thandesirablef. .'lhat is to say, the oscillation of the-rocker is confined to predetermined limits.

The two bends .of the rocker must be in predetermined relation to each other.' For instance, in the construction shown the bend 8 at the valve seating end of the rocker, must be far enough from the valve seating end of the runeway to cause the limb 9 to form a light pocket or seat offrepose to retain the ball, so as to form an elevator for the weight; and limbs 9 and 10 must be at such an angle with relationfto the unseating limb 11 at the motive end of the rocker, that the ball will not roll from the valve operating end of the rocket until such end has attained an elevation great enough and has inclined the limb 10 enough toward the middle bend 7, to give the b'all such an impulse as it moves down the inclined limb 10 as to cause the weight, through the force of its Vown momentum, to run past the middle bend 7 of the-rocker and on toward the motive end thereof 'and to act against 'the sloping face of limb 11, and run along the une 'so as to carry the farther end of the rocker downto the position of rest with the ball in repose at that end and weightingr it dow-n. The ball is of such weight relative to the valve and valve-stem andother parts,`

that it will hold the rockerin the'position A until motiveA power external to the rocker is .applied to initiate an oscillation of the rocker in an'o'pposite direction.

The limb-11 is at such an'angle to the limbs `10 and 9 and the fulcrum 24 of the rocker, that the angle of repose of the Weightzavhenyatqthe,yalve unseating end is that at,the;return action-.the rWeight will roll from itsseat at .the valve unseating end=of the= rockerfbefore lthe limb 11 has been elevated to an incline equal tothat to W- hichpit had. descended-When the ball had gbegunto-.depress the limb l1.

It Will beseen-by the `reference* to Figs. land that the'end to be attained by these .bends and the :consequent ball and rocker .actionlis: :that vWhile the left end oi the rockeimas shown g in said 'figure is slowly rising, immediately upon its reaching a certain point,.the restvof the rising action Will be' turned .into a practically instantaneous rising: action by the,-i1npact androlling of the-tsteel-ball, on limb 11; and it'will also be that the otherfpointto be attained isfithat whenfthe reverse action is:brou;-; ,1fht

about, thergballnvill rollironnthe right end Iof; the rockerpandqibring:about a sudden descent-of-fthefleft endofthe 'rocker before .the left end has descended tofthe; pointunen- `tioned above at .wllich the left' -end -of `r the rocker,' vvhen'yit ,was 4risingpv had-.commenced its sudden-faction. i f Y gilt mill-l bef seenuthatf-I fhave iproducedea mecha-nisrrn; one fent'l, of which, though it fbe slowly rising, will freach- :ar-point where yits actionqwillysuddenlyi be changed to a lvery rapid actiongand 'that/vice' versa, when" this end is slowly descending, 'fit will .reacha position Wherey its .slowly descending motion .Willi be, turned into-a practically `instantaneous emotion .tand this glatter` position will be considerably `above -1 the t position' previously mentioned, at'whi'ch--wl1en the left end of thegrocker is rising slightly,- ,fthe slow motion'isturnedntothe practically instantaneousfmotion; f. -fv

In-F ig. 3,-ve" positions ofithe' rocker are shown to ,illustrate the? action -1 by reason of the' twio weighteats 9 and -9 being Eef-rdifferentianglesbrepose. Atfp'osition yA the Weight l.is held Astably iny seat-92--I ,At positionfB theaang'lefof i"reposeqfor the rolling Weight 13 -lias been overcomeiatseatltlso that ithe ,rollinghweightfwillfrirolltoward seat -9. A'aT-he 4weight'bf the `valve--and=- stem pull lther-rockerh down atZ the Vvalve seating cndl so .that the-ball readily :rolls to the pocket or elevator seatfformed'by limb 9. Therockerptherefore will oscillate almost instantaneouslyy from position' -with the lball at; B t'ofpositionavith the' ball at Ef; f

-At 1 p'ositionss4 C; D y'and 1E, i therefore, f the limb l-l- -fis free from .-fthe'rfwe'ight the weight x13 is: imposecb upon .ftheflimb ll0.`

lOn' depressiont fromv E+ to -D'v and 'consequentfrisingsfrom EVAto D. the YWeight haslsecn elevated to -a llevely considerably higher thanf the-level fB iW-hich overcame; thewangle" Yangle ofrrepose of the Weight fatDi has not been overcome, nor. is it overcomeuntil the position C has been reached. The elevation from E to the Weight unseating level at C is aboutthree timesthef elevation from A- to the weight unseating level B and at this juncture: .the ball being released and rolling down the incline will strike the limb 11.7at the positioniCitheizeby acting to suddenly depress seat -9 -and'yjerk the-valve 21. from its seat. This diierence betweenthe :point of sudden rising motion and-the point .sof sudden descending motion-of a limb is made `eiiectiveas follows: The valve stern20 is of such a length that when the valve end V1.81. of` the rocker; commences itszpractically instantaneous upward motion, it' has alslight distance to travel before. it :engages: thel 'head of the valve stem sotliatitacts thereonlike :a .hammer. -When itvthus.engagesfthechead of.Y the-valve stem, the valve will.be1unseated with a l,practically instanteneousf,` action fand on the further ,oscillation offthe'rockerfit is raised Well above the valve seat.

f iceversa, Whenqthefclosing: actionof. the

mechanism commencesathere 'isz enoughilivi'erence ibetween, the closing-.pointsand openingy points ,1 mentioned above vto allow ffthe practically f ins'tantanenusy .-closingi faction'zto begin at-alfpoint'beore theivalvefhas. closely appro-ached its seat; sol I'that `'the lvalve imay seataby Ithe `momentum of Ia considerable drop. l e'It ivillthusbeen seen thatthe valve is im inediately and .positively seated, 1 sof novgas, will pass throughtlie outlet .25. Viceversa, when the valve is r'descending toward the :closedi offl vposition it will l allovvY a 'full f supply .r of -gas to flow until .f the' valve reaches a point where it starts todescend almost instantaneously; and-thegas isshut off from 'full flow tof'fullshut oil'l practicallydnstantaneously. The object attained byv this doubleacting quick action-in the casmillustrated, is the `preventionfof'flareebacks invair Amixers on gasaburnersg; and .the advantage of :having a burner always in' normal-desired'condition that 'f is,= with fu'll flowwoff'gas or:- absolutely shu't-oii' With-1 no flow 'of -g'asf except vat' a, pilot lightznotshown f The-oscillatory member'is shown'iasulcrumed on the 1 axis f24 'supportedfby'fthe standards 26 having V'shaped Anotches or crotches 27 that establishes the vertical plane Q8 producedwfrom the'aXis-M and across which -thevei'ght moves 'from limb 10 toll, and vice versa. i A

Thesniotive poiver-*is shown as yapplied frorntheiod'd to" thef'end 17 Aotthe oscillatory membe'iby means: oitI the 'levers .29 and 30. rand the lost frnotion device Y vcomprising a ivire' 31"having'tips' 432,33 :that 'engage :re-"f spectively anlupperiand iunder side 'zot the li piitel 7 umh e moveni'entlby; th e ime'an s thus:

shown to initiate the oscillation of the rocker 6 is very slow, but fas'the tip 32 depresses the limb 11 to the position-C, thus elevating the seat 9v to the position C the angle of repose of the weightis overcome with the result above Statedyandvice versa, on the return movementlof the lever 30 through pressure of the rod il upon4 lever 29, the tip 33 `elevates the limb 11 from position A to posi- :tion Bythus overcoming the angle of repose A mechanicali'movement comprising a rocker. having v'a kfloor provided with-"three limbs :arranged to form concave andconvex bends and provided with barsv at thel ends, and-.farollin'g wei ht .onfisaidfrockerg s the concave bend being? near V=tlie :vertical plane ofv the'axis of oscillation--and the" convex bend being near one end of 'the rocker, whereby the angle of repose ofthe weight isvsuicient at one end of the rocker to be overcome only upon a considerable elevation of such end so as'to give high momentum to the weight to 'carry .it across `the concave bend to cause it to suddenly depress the descndinglimb of the rocker and jerk'up the rising limb.

2.` A variable mechanical movement comprisiiig-an oscillatory member provided with a way and a mobile weight in said way,.said Way being constructed with-two limbs inclined downwardV toward the produced verti cal plane of the of oscillation, said wayJ being provided at one end lwith'means to maintain the angleofrepose of the weight throughout a greater arc at 'that' end than at the/other end. during reciprocal oscillations of said member, so that the-greater m05 nicntumfwvill' be7 acquired by 4the` weight in gravitational-ly moving from one end ofthe oscillatorym'ember than from the other end of such member.'

3. lA variable mechanical movement comprisinganioscillatory member provided with a way and a mobile weight in said way, said way'lbeing constructedfwith twoy limbs 1nclined downward toward the 'produced Vvertical 'plane o'if'theaxis. of oscillation, said way being provided atone end with "means to maintain theiangle of repose ofthe weight throughout a greater arc fatthat end 'thany at thefothr endl-during .reciprocal osclllae tions of said member, so that the greater'momentuml will be acquired by the Weight in gravitationally moving from one end of the oscillatory member than from the `other end of such membeigand lost motion means to gradually initiate the oscillatory movement of said member.Y

4. vA variable mechanical movement comprising an oscillatory member provided with a way and a mobile weight insaid way, sai d way being constructed with two limbs inclined downward toward the produced vertical/plane ofthevaxis .of oscillation, said way'being provided at one end with'means to maintain the angle oi repose of the weight throughout a` greater arc at that end than at theother endf'during reciprocal;=osci lla tions of saidffmemben so that the'greater momentum will be acquired by the weight in fgravitationa-lly moving from one end of the oscillatory member 'than -from the other 'end ofsuch member; and lost motion means operablefby thel oscillatory member atithe latter partof thev upward movementloffsaid angle off; repose maintaining? end 4'-f the lmember 'for -thefpurpos'ef ofi operating 'Y the Ioperable lostimotion 'means with a je'rkli 5. A4 variable mechanical Imvement f' comprising an oscillatory member provided with awayand'a mobile vy'vfeififl'n] in said way, said way 'being constructed with two' limbs inclined downward toward the produced vertical plane' of v the axis of oscillation, said way beingilprovid'ed at one end with means to maintain the angle of repose of the'weight throughout a greater arc at that end than at the other end' Iduring reciprocal oscilla tions vof said member, so that the greater momentum will be acquired by the weight in gravitationally moving from one end of the1oscilla'tory'member than from the other end of such member ;A lost motion means to gradually` initiate the oscillatoryf movement of said member; and lostl motion means operable byl the oscillatory memb'erat the latter part'lof the upward movement ofsaid angle of reposelmaintaining end 'of the member'for the purpose of'operating theoperable'lostmotion 4means with arjerk.

6.1'Thei v'combinationwitln stops -`and lost motionf'mean's', of an oscillatory'meinber 'fulcrumed between its ends= to 'oscillate bei tween the' stops and provided ,with a wav for'a :mobile-weight; said member 'being provided with two' limbs converging toward a' vertical plane-produced from the afXis: of oscillation; a' mobile weight in said" way adapted"to'lrestat'either end of'said member when s'uch endI is =lf11lly-depressed, andl adapted f 'to move 'from suchend when' the same `is? elevated? to a "predetermined level. and to move over the 'adjacent :limb and across :'saidfverticalplane and byreason of" it'srnomentumto -act upon the opposite limb while :s uch opposite'limb is yet aslant upward from such vertical plane for; the-pur-v pose of operating the oscillatory' member with a jerk and allowing the weight to come to restLat the farther end-'of theway:

7. The combination with a .valve seat and a valve therefor, ofi anV oscillatory member fulcrumed between its ends. and provided with a way fora mobileweight; saidmember being'provided with two limbs converging toward a vertical plane produced from the axis of oscillation and: having a' seat at each end for a weight; a weight. in said way adapted to rest at either end ofsaid member when such; end isa-depressed and` adapted. to-move Vfromfrthe depressed end when somewhat elevated and to move from its seat and down the adjacent limb while the same is aslant toward .-said vertical pl'ane and to act upon theopposite limb to depress the same for the purposel of allowing the weight to come tosrest at theffarther end thereof; and means-:tosmaintainfthe weight in a state of repose at one; endzof themember through an arc of. upwalrdfloscillationf greater than that whichzissutlicient .toz' overcome the angle of reposeeoj the weight at the 8. The combination with a valveseatr and a valve thereforg:oeanibscillatory member provided with a way for a mobile weight and having at one end a lost motion connection with said valve and a positive seat of repose for said weight and provided at the other end of the way with a less positive seat of repose for said weight; said oscillatory member bein fulcrumed intermediate its ends and provided with limbs converging downwardly toward a vertical plane produced from the axis of oscillation; a mobile weight in said way adapted to remain at rest in one or the other seats of repose at the end of an oscillatory movement 1n one or the other direction; means to limit the amplitude of oscillation so that when the member oscillates from closed valve position, the mobile weight will be elevated to a sufficient height to cause the momentum of its descent along the then ascending limb of the way to be sufficiently great to suddenly operate the then descending limb to unseat the valve and to allow the weight to reach the other seat of repose.

9. rlhe combination with a support; of an oscillatory member fulcrumed on the support and having a limited range of oscillation on a horizontal axis and provided with a way for a mobile weight; a mobile weight in said way adapted to move gravitationally from end to end of theway as said member is oscillated; said way being formed with limbs arranged in different angular relations to each other2 the first and second of said limbs converging downward toward the produced vert-ical plane of said axis of oscillation, and the second and third limbs -converging in a reverse direction to aline parallel to said axis and near one end of the way, to form a timed elevator for said mobile weight; and lost m'otion means to give suliicient initial oscillation to the oscillatory member in either direction to start the mobile weight from the rising toward the lowering end of said oscillatory member; said timed elevator being adapted to hold the weight in repose until it is elevated to a height sufficient to enable the weight to be returned with greater momentum toward the seat of slight repose than it travels from said seat toward the seat oi greater repose. i

l0. The combination with a mobile weight, of an oscillatory member forming a way having two limbs in concave angular relation to each other and having seats for the weight at the ends of said way and provided at one of said seats with means to maintain aniangle of repose .for said weight for the purpose ofelevatingV said weight through a considerable arc during an oscillatory movement in order that when theI angle1of7rep0se of@ theA weight, is overcome, the .impetus of descent of such weight will be considerable so. as to exert considerable force to overcome resistance tovdescent of the opposite limb of the member.

11. The combination with a mobile weight7 of an oscillatory member forming a way having two limbs in concave angular relation to each other and having seats for the weight at the ends of said way and pro- 100 vided at one of said seats with means to maintain an angle of repose for said weight for the purpose of elevating said weight through a considerable arc during an oscillat0r 7 movement in order that When the 105 angle of repose of the weight is overcome, the impetus of descent of such weight will be considerable so as to exert considerable force to overcome resistance to descent of the opposite limb' of the member, and lost motion 110 means through which such force is applied to-overcome the resistance.

12. The combination with a mobile weight, of an oscillatory member forming a way having two limbs in concave angular rela. 115 tion to each other and having seats for the weight at the ends of said way and provided at one of said seats with means to maintain an angle of repose for said weight for the purpose of elevating said weight through 120 a considerable arc during an oscillatory movement in order that when the angle of repose of the weight is overcome, the impetus of descent of such weight will be considerable so as to exert considerable force 125 to overcome resistance to descent of the opposite limb of the member, and means to initiate the oscillatory movement.

13. The combination with a mobile weight, of an oscillating member forming a way 180 having tivo limbs in concave angular relation to each other and having, seatsior the weight at the ends of said Way and provided at one of said seats With means to maintain an angle of repose for said Weight for the purpose of elevating said Weight through a considerable arc during an oscillatory movement in order thatAv Whenithe angleo' repose of the Weight is overcome, the im.- petus of'd'escentvof.such Weight will be considerable-sofas 'to e'Xert considerable force to overcome resist'ancefto descent'ofthe opposite limb lolthe member, lost'. motion means through which suclrforce is 'applied to overcome the resistance, and lost motion means rto initiate lthe oscillator f i'novem'ent. 14. In combination, -an oscillatoryvv-member bent to formwthe-'floor of azivay having twvo limbs in concave" ang'ularz-relation'fto each other :cylindricalfrods at -the-sidefof the ivay and: bars atfthefend f-.theAva-f; aball inthe Way ;l lest motion? fmeans rtovinitiate foscillation :or the member land4 `'lost motion means operable by theoscillatorye member.. In colnbinationya'ny oscillatory: member bent `to form the rfioorioffa Lw'vay -'l1av,in,g'two limbs in fconcave an, z,i'1lar:.relatioiiry to y'each other, cylindrical 44it-the sides lo/:the Way and 'bars lat the" endsofI the Way ai: ball in the Way; lost motion means to initiate oscillation of the member; and Valve means operable by the oscillatory member. 16. Incombination, an oscillatory member bent to form the floor of a Way having tWo limbs in concave angular relation to each other; a ball in theway;4 lost motion means to initiate oscillationoi'' the member; and lost motion means= operable byl the oscilla! tory'member.: j: 'f 174 In combination, an'oscillatory member. bent to form the iioor' of a way having two limbs in concave angular relation to each other;v a ballintheway; and valve means operablebyy the oscillatory member. l l l8. In combination., an oscillatory .member be'ntto {Orr-.inthe oorof a Way having tivo' limbs in concave .angular relation tof'each'; otheLj; la fbal'l e in the way. ;l =l`ost motion means to'initiateioscillationfo'tr the member; and. adjustable stops .to 'adjust the oscillatory n'iovement yoli-:said member. f* In-test'imony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand- -vat :Los z Angeles, California, this' 29tlrday=ofiApril,il918l mi ,-f 1;

"fFRAnKawA-LK '-.l' Vitness:.fi,-.r i' JAunsRafflowNsnND... y Y ,--,w 

